May Day Protestors March for Worker's Rights

Sign translates to "Jobs with Justice"
By ASHLEY JOCZ

About 300 people marked May Day yesterday in a march through downtown, calling for workers' rights and equality. The marchers—beginning and ending at O'Bryant Square—chanted "si se puede," a slogan used by the United Farm Workers, and, "FBI and CIA ain't nothin' but the KKK."

Compared to the Occupy Portland-fueled May Day protest of 2012, Wednesday's event was tame. Last year, more than 2,000 people marched, and police arrested 36. This year there were no arrests—in contrast to Seattle, where police arrested 17 people and used pepper spray and flash-bang grenades. The crowd threw rocks and glass bottles at police officers, according to USA Today.

In Portland, the rally was to "make sure everyone gets paid what they're supposed to get paid," says Justin Katigbak, a Portland State University student and member of PSU Kaibigan, which means "friend" in Filipino.

The groups taking part in the march include those advocating for workers', immigration and labor rights. OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, for example, called on TriMet to extend transfer times from 2 hours to 3 to help working families.

"There were definitely less problems with [May Day] than there was with Occupy," said activist Jon Seitan, "Portland's May Day is always pretty tame, all things considered."

Check out some pictures from the event:

 
 
 
 
 
 

WWeek 2015

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